“Social distancing” has become a ubiquitous term in these days of the COVID-19 pandemic. By maintaining one’s distance to no less than six feet from another individual, health officials have introduced a popular phrase that helps the public deal with the subject in a non-authoritarian, more appealing and memorable manner.
But did you know that affinity groups beyond the general public use similar terminology, specific to their respective areas of concern, to also keep their distance?
For instance:
For some time now, the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania have been envious of the archipelago islands to the east, of the islands’ draw of tourists and their spending money away from the mainland. As a result, Kenya and Tanzania have been practicing Seychelles distancing.
Metal detecting enthusiasts – you know, people who walk the beach with a vacuum-like contraption that supposedly helps mine submerged coins, jewels, baubles and similar tchotchkes – are especially intolerant of those who prefer searching for various marine mollusk “housings,” which by their very nature literally tend to overwhelm the shoreline. In other words, these metal heads keep seashell distancing.
The industry association for attaché cases clings to the old establishment mantra that business people are only dressed for success if that accessory is part of their wardrobe, and not the hipster look of a loose-fitting fold-over bag carried over the shoulder by a strap. No, the aforementioned purists look upon the latter with disdain, maintaining what they refer to as satchel distancing.
Apparently, just as there is a contentious nature among our varied cultures, so, too, are there rifts and rivalries among many Native American nations. It is most pronounced in our far Western states where the Sioux and Cheyenne have it in particularly for another long historically established tribe, with whom they maintain Shoshone distancing.
In 2014, Russia hosted the Winter Olympics at a popular Black Sea-side resort, which garnered much goodwill among everyone, from Olympic participants to fans and media in attendance. But Moscow, clearly the nation’s geopolitical hub, took umbrage at a then-recent census that noted residents were nonetheless leaving that country’s capital and moving to the resort’s warmer climes and beaches 1,000 miles to its south. It was then decided by Vladimir Putin that he, personally, would never again mention, let alone travel, to this town. Which is why he has committed to Sochi distancing.
And then there are those who prefer to dine in the conventional manner – foods that are heated, cooked, roasted, fried, seared, sautéed – and consider any type of raw foods, generally those of an Asian origin, not only unhealthy and foul-tasting but sacrilegious and downright unpatriotic. Alas, these folks have been known to practice – what else – sushi distancing.
